Do you want a drill or a picture hung?

You know that saying, "people don't want to buy a drill, they want to hang a picture on the wall"?

Image credit: Freepik

 I got asked the other day... "What is it that people want, that they can get from working with you?" In other words, if the drill is strategic thinking, what is their 'hang a picture on the wall'? What do people want strategic thinking FOR? 

I realised that one of the challenges is that sometimes people don't know what they want strategic thinking for, they just have a sense that they probably need it. Or they do know what they want it for, but they either haven't articulated it or they don't realise its full potential. 

This is the challenge of teaching something that is a) not well defined, b) considered a critical skill.

Lots of people know they need it, or at least know they should have it. But can they really TASTE the benefits?  Do they know how it would change their world?

So here's me articulating what strategic thinking can help you do (or stop doing)…

With strong strategic thinking skills, a senior team and/or leader can:

• Create a strategy (have to state the obvious sorry), however, this is way too simplistic (see next bullet points).

• Create a robust, creative, insightful, compelling strategy that actually moves the needle in the areas that matter (that's better).

• Never, ever again pen a fill-in-the-blanks strategy that gets presented then sits in a drawer and informs or influences nothing. 

• Get a team on the same page about what the strategy should be so that you can create a shared, collective strategy rather than a mish-mash collection of ideas being pursued all at once.

• Get an organisation on the same page about a strategy through being able to articulate it with logic and clarity. 

And any professional can:

• Make robust, well-informed, well-thought out decisions that move the organisation towards its goals.

• Achieve meaningful forward motion on solving big hairy complex issues that require a focused, strategic approach. 

• Write kick-ass business cases that are crystal clear on the why, which, what and how.

• Express ideas, solutions, insights, and professional advice with clarity and connection to what matters to the organisation.

• Stop saying yes to everything - doing a bit of everything and wondering whether it all adds up to meaningful progress.

• Start focusing efforts into a single direction. And know what that direction is and why it matters.

Just so you know I'm not making this up, here's a testimonial from a development programme participant that exemplifies some of these things. I've highlighted the 'picture on the wall' bits.

This program has equipped me with essential tools to navigate complex challenges and honed my ability to anticipate opportunities to craft effective, forward-thinking strategies. The use of theoretical frameworks and practical exercises supported me to gain comprehensive understanding of strategic planning, enabling me to approach decision-making with clarity and confidence. I will now approach challenges with a strategic lens, considering long-term implications and potential outcomes with depth. I wholeheartedly recommend this programme to anyone looking to strengthen their strategic thinking and drive meaningful impact in their organisation.

— Zoe Tipa - Chief Nurse, Whānau Āwhina Plunket

But wait! That last line! Read those last six highlighted words again…

Yes, all of the bullet points above are outcomes of being able to think strategically, but we can go further and ask "so what?" again. What do all these things give us?

Ultimately, strategic thinking is the pathway to focused impact.

There's that word again - impact. The 'picture hanging on the wall' that the 'drill' helps you to achieve? It's the impact that you dream of creating.

That impact will look different for every professional, every team, every organisation. The point is, we all want to move the needle on something that matters. That's focused impact, and that's where strategic thinking can take you.

If you liked this, sign up for my articles straight to your inbox, check out my website, follow me on LinkedIn, or contact me on nina@ninafield.co.nz to discuss how I can help you with strategic thinking and strategic leadership development.